Cleaning device and method

Abstract

A cleaning device includes a soft sponge layer, having at least one rib or bead on its surface; an intermediate layer, which is harder than the sponge layer, a cloth layer, that is bonded to the intermediate layer, opposite to the sponge layer. The layers may be bonded to one another. Bonding the soft sponge layer to a harder intermediate layer already considerable improves upon the handling achieved by the sponge with the rib. Even when the sponge is completely soaked with the cleaning agent it remains stable in shape due to its firm bonding to the harder intermediate layer. The user may grasp the hard intermediate layer of the device so that the sponge will not be compressed.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A cleaning device, comprising the following layers firmly bonded to one another:
 a soft sponge layer, having at least one of: a rib and a bead on its surface; 
 an intermediate layer, which is harder than the sponge layer and 
 a cloth layer which is bonded to the intermediate layer opposite to the sponge layer. 
 
     
     
       2. The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the surface of the sponge layer comprises a multitude of ribs extending parallel to one another. 
     
     
       3. The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the surface of the sponge layer comprises a multitude of beads extending to one another. 
     
     
       4. The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer is composed of foamed plastics which is considerably harder than the sponge layer. 
     
     
       5. The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the cloth layer includes at least one of: glass cleaning cloth, plastics cleaning cloth, microfiber cloth, random web cloth. 
     
     
       6. The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning device has a width in the range of 40 mm to 80 mm, a length in the range of 60 mm to 120 mm and a thickness in the range of 15 mm to 40 mm. 
     
     
       7. The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein a compression stress value CV40 (ISO 3386/1) of the flexible foam of the sponge layer is in the range of 2 to 10 kPa. 
     
     
       8. The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the compression stress value CV40 (ISO 3386/1) of the intermediate layer is in the range of 50 to 150 kPa. 
     
     
       9. A cleaning set comprising packaging enclosing a container with a cleaning agent and a cleaning device comprising the following layers firmly bonded to one another:
 a soft sponge layer, having at least one of: a rib and a bead on its surface; 
 an intermediate layer, which is harder then the sponge layer and 
 a cloth layer which is bonded to the intermediate layer opposite to the sponge layer. 
 
     
     
       10. The cleaning set of  claim 9 , wherein the container comprises a pump and spray head for manual operation. 
     
     
       11. The cleaning set of  claim 9 , wherein the cleaning agent is an alcohol-free surface cleaner. 
     
     
       12. The cleaning set of  claim 9 , wherein the volume of the container is in the range of 2 to 20 ml.